The Tehran stock exchange has broken its record for the highest ever transaction on the bourse with the sale of shares worth over one billion dollars in a state copper company.

Iran said that new UN sanctions would torpedo renewed nuclear inspections but the United States and its allies are still insistent on imposing a third round of sanctions against Tehran.

Iran dismissed the latest US strategy report on Iraq as “unrealistic” and warned it would not take part in future talks on Iraqi security unless Washington was serious.